Electric switch



Nov. 3, {9 1.560,!18

E. R. STOEKLE ELECTRIC swlfon Filed Sept. 2 921 INVENTOR.

mm Kym PM ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE.

ERWIN R. STOEKLE, OI MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE EUTLER-KAH- MER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONfiIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCGNSIN'.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed September 12, 1921. Serial m. scams.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERWIN R. S'ronKLn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification.

This invention relates to electric switches -and more particularly to switches of the fluid contacttype. p

In my Patent No. 1,492,584, dated May 6, 1924, is disclosed a switch mechanism adapted to control circuit by means of fluid contacts and at a relatively small expenditure of mechanical power, such mechanism being specially designed and constructed to minimize deterioration of the switch parts dr a the effects of possible arcing, and the pi at invention has among its objects that of providing an improved switch mechanism of the foregoing character wherein certain of the aforementioned characteristies are still further accentuated.

Another object is that of providing such a switch which is adapted to maintain its utility and effectiveness substantially unimpaired even after a considerable degree of structural deterioration due to arcing or the like.

ther objects and after appear.

In the accompanying drawing. wherein advantages will hereinare illustrated certain of the embodiments which the invention mayassume inpractice, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a proposed construction thereof; while,

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a modi tied construction.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, the same illustrates a switch comprising a. hermetically tight supporting envelope or con- 4 tainer 5 composed of insulating and heat resistive material such, for example, as pyrcx glass andcontaining a quantity of conductive fluid 6, such for example, as mercury.

Said container is preferably of cylindrical or other circular contour and is intcriorly firovided with an integrally formed or rigidly secured bulb 7 arranged concentrically therewith and preferably spaced therefrom except at the region of attachment indicated at 8; Conductive terminals 9 and 10 are sealed within the outer walls of the container 5 trally located portions thereof, the terminal 9 being arranged to penetrate the region 8 and within the bulb '5 as illustrates, whereas, the terminal 10 is arranged entirely without said bulb and both of said terminals are provided with portions arranged permanent ly below the level of the conductive fluid \5.

The bulb 7 is provided with a circumferein tially located opening 11, the same being preferably spaced approximately equal distances from the submerged portions of the respective terminr' 9 and 10 as illustrated and said opening i. .ing when in the position illustrated to ide for physical and electrical continua the bodies of conductive fluid located csnectively within and without the bulb 7. sale bulb is also pre crably provided with a further opening 12 which may be of reduced diameter relative to that of the opening 11, the c ,ing also located circumferentially ol huio and angularly displaced with re erence to opening 11 whereby said opening; the level of the conductive flu d uncir normat operating conditions of "th dev function of said opening being l izing pressures 'ithin and without 1 particularly under conditions was the opening 11 may be completely submer ed.

ln practice the terminals 9 and O are preferably extended given or desired distances axially beyond the outer boundary of the container 5 and are terminally electriealr ly connected with suitable conductive caps 13 and 14 as by soldering, welding or otherwise, said caps being in turn permanently secured to and about the respective terminal portions of the container 0 by cement or in all) other desired or preferred manner.

The aforedescribcd mechanism is oscillat- 'ably supported and provided with external -("l1CU1lI connections preferably in the manner illustrated but optionally in any other suitable manner, whereas a suitable operat ing lever 15 is secured to the switch for oscillation thereof. Also where said lever is to be actuated mechanically throughout. a

preferably at terminally and cenfixed angle the same is preferably arranged for angular adjustment relative to the switch structure to thereby provide for varying at will the angular positions of the lever at which circuit is respectively broken and reestablished by the switch. In practice said lever is preferably mounted for angular movement relative to the switch structure as illust ed but is normally clamped thereto by me. as of a screw l6 whereas a suitable pointer and scale indicated generally at 17 are provided to -facilitate accuracy of the angular adjustment.

The various parts being in the relative positions illustrated, it. is obvious that the circuit through the switch is completed from terminal 9 to the conductive fluid and through that portion of the latter extending through the opening 11 to the conductive fluid without the bulb 7, thence to the terminal 10 and to the other side of the circuit. However, upon partial rotation of the con tainer 5, such as to lift the opening ll above the surface of the conductive fluid, it is apparent that the atoredescribed circuit is broken suddenly between fluid surfaces, whereas, upon partial rotation of the switch in the opposite direction to the position illustrated or even somewhat beyond such position the circuit is re-establ'shed in a similar manner and similarly between fluid surfaces.

In practice it is preferable to exhaust the air, particularly the oxygen thereof, from 1 the interior of the container 5 prior to sealing said container, for the purpose of pre venting oxidation of the interiorly located conductive elements due to the eliects of possible arcing, the space above the level of the conductive fluid being; left substantially evacuated or optionally being filled with one of the known inert arc suppressing gases.

While the foregoing expedients are -found to be largely effective in suppressing arcs incident to interruption of currents of relatively reduced value, nevertheless a certain degree of arcing may occur even under the aforementioned conditions where the value of the electrical energy to be broken is of relatively high magnitude. However, the afored'escribed construction and arrangement serves to limit any deleterious efiects ot such possible arcing to those portions of the bulb 7 adjacent or icontiguous to the opening 11, the outer container 5 being wholly unaffected, whereby even in the event vofeserious arcing adjacent the opening 11,

such even as to ellect a considerable degree ofdeterioration or disintegration of the material of the bulb 7 at or adjacent to such point, the hermetically tight seal is still maintained by means of the container 5 and the operativeness and etficiency'ot" the device are either unafiected or not seriously impaired. L

Referring now to Fig. Q of the drawing,

the same illustrates a switch construction similar in most respects to that atoredescribed. In this instance, however, the inner bulb 7 is structurally independent of the container 5 being; on the other hand adapted to float within and to a large extent above the surface of the conductive fluid 6 as illustrated whereby in operation the mass of the parts which require to be moved physically is very materially reduced with a corresponding reduction in the operating force required.

In practice the terminals 9 and 10 are sealed within the walls of the container 5 as aforedescribed. said terminals having parts axially positioned with reference to said container 5 and adapted to extend loosely into axially arranged openings of the bulb as illustrated, whereby said terminals comprise means for positioning and guiding said bulb to thereby maintain the latter substantially concentrically spaced within the container 5 as illustrated. One or both of the terminals 9 and 10 may be preferably provided with parts'such as 18 and 19 forming shoulders for preventing axial shifting of the bulb 7 with reference to the container 5 whereas, said terminals are provided with conductive portions to be continuously immersed in the conductive.

fluid respectively within and without the bulb 7* as afordescribed. A relatively small and light armature member 20 is securedto the bulb 7 in spaced relation to the axis of oscillation thereof, whereas, a relatively small electro-magnet 21 is located outside the container 5 in such relation as when subjected to a given degree of energization to attract said armature member for effecting rotation of the bulb into the position illustrated wherein circuit between the terminals 9 and 10" is establish-ed, whereas, upon de-energization of the electromagnet the weight or buoyancy of the armature member 20 may be utilized for er"- i'ecting reverse partial rotation of the bulb for interrupting the controlled circuit.

lu practice the electrounagnet 21 is prel crably mounted in a manner providing as illustrated for angular adjustment thereof in the'plane of oscillation of the armature member 20 thereby providing for adjustment or calibration of the sensitiveness of response of the switch and also serving as a means for regulating the time elementincident to response thereof.

From the foregoing it is apparent that each of the constructions aforedescribed is adapted to the control of relatively high values of electrical energy by means ot a minimum expenditure of mechanical power whereas, each of the structures described is adapted to maintain its operativeness, utility and efiiciency even following such prolonged or arduous service as to efiect considerable 7 in c to the material e1n plo eci its cons .ru Lion since such damage can occur only at such points as not scrionsl to affect such characteristics of the switch.

ll hat l clann as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An electric SWlt l1 COIn} )1"lSlllg inner and outer containers, the outer container comprising a hermetically sealed insulating envelope, a conductive fluid included Within said envelope to extend Within said inner container, terminals Within said containers, and means for effecting rotation of said iu ner container while maintaining said outer container in fixed position for interrupting and reestablishiiw conductivii; between the portions of said .iuid within the respective containers.

2. An electric switch comprising inner and outer containers, the outer container comprising a hermetically sealed insulating enrelope, a conductive fluid included within said envelope to extend Within said inner container, terminals Within said containers, means whereby electrical conductivity between the portions of the conductive fiuid respectively Within and without said nner container is interrupted and reestablished upon rotation of said inner container in on positedirect-ions While said outer container reineins stationary, and e cctro-nuignetic means for oi ing such rotation.

An electric switch comprising; inner and outer containers, terminal devices for the respectii-e containers, the outer container comprising-a hermetically sealed in sulating envelope, a conductive fluid inwhile maintaining said outer container in f xed position.

4. An electric switch comprising inner auu outer containers, the outer container cone prising a hermetically sealed integral insulating envelope, a conductive fluid included within said envelope and having a portion thereof located also within said inner container, terminal deyices penetrating said envelope and having portions to be continuously immersed Within the conductive fluid respectively Within and Without said inner container, the latter having means adapting tiresome upon partial rotation in opposite directions to respectively interrupt and reestablish conductivity between said terminal and clcc'tro-niagnelic operating means for said inner container.

In on electric switch, the combination with a container and a quantity of conductive fluid therein, of an'insulating member adapted to float in said fluid, terminal devices to be electrically connected by said fluid, said terminal devices having means for maintaining substantially a predetermined space relation between said container and said insulating member and means to act upon said insulating member for controlling continuity of circuis between said terminal devices.

v 6. The combination. with a hermetically tight insulating container having" a conductive fluid therein and also including a space substantially devoid of oxygen gas, of terminal (lei-ices penetrating said container and having portions to be cont-inuously'in mersod in said fluid, included Within. said container to be sup ported by said fluid end to contain a quantity thereof. certain of the immersed portions of said terminal devices being located Within said bulb, bulb having means providing for electrical continuity of the finial inside and outside thereof and means act upon said hall) for interrupting such continuity in Witness Whereofll have hereunto Sill)- scri oed my name.

ERWIN R. STOEKLE.

an insulating bulb 

